Absence Policy

Absences must be submitted to the Attendance Office – absences will not be excused by phone.  The parent can submit an excuse using the Dr. Ronald E McNair High School Attendance Submission, or the student can bring a note when returning to school.  Please make sure to include the reason your student was absent.  Please provide a doctor’s note if your child is absent due to a medical appointment; the absence will not be excused if a note is not provided. Students who are absent more than three consecutive days will also be asked to provide a doctor's note. Also, please provide a note within five days of an absence, so we can maintain accurate attendance.

Per DCSD's Student Code of Conduct, excused absences are defined by District Policy JB, which also requires submission of appropriate documentation.  

Georgia law is as follows: personal illness; serious illness or death in the family; religious holiday; instances in which attendance could be hazardous as determined by the DeKalb County School District; registering to vote/voting in a public election; tests and physical exams for military service and the National Guard; and other such absences as provided for by law or by the local Board of Education.  

Georgia law also provides for special treatment of absences in the following circumstances:

• Georgia law provides up to 5 days of excused absences for students whose parents are in the armed forces and who are called to duty or home on leave from overseas deployment in a combat zone.  

• Students serving as Pages of the Georgia General Assembly will be counted as present for days missed from school for such service.  

• Students volunteering to work as poll officers in the Student Teen Election Program (STEP) will be counted present for up to two (2) days of service in that program.

• Foster care students attending court proceedings related to their foster care shall be credited as present for any day(s) or portion of a day missed from school for that purpose